To the ones who hurt on Mother's Day...To the ones who long to hold your precious glory babies and see their faces...

To the ones who just want to give your moms a hug but are separated by miles or are on separate sides of glory...

To the ones who feel less than because you don't have the same last name as your children...

To the ones who are struggling through postpartum depression and don't have the strength to keep smiling through the day...

To the ones who feel feel burdened and weary and exhausted especially today...

To the widows and widowers who miss your spouses even more on a day like today...

To the ones who cry for your prodigals to come home...

To the single moms who don't feel celebrated and aren't given a relaxing break today...

To the ones who stay away from social media on a day like today because of the sting it leaves with each post you scroll through...

To the ones who avoided church in fear of it being too painful...

To the ones who hurt on Mother's Day...

I just want you to know that:

You are not alone.

You are not forgotten.

You are dearly loved.

You are prayed for.

The Church stands with you.

Whatever your story looks like, whatever role you are in, whatever hurts you have today, the Body of Christ supports you, cheers you on, loves you.

If you are mourning, we mourn with you. If you are grieving, we grieve with you. If you are hurting, we hurt with you. And together we come to the One who invites the weary and the burdened and the broken to come and find rest in Him.

May the words of Psalm 23 remind us that we have a Shepherd that provides for us and leads us, loves us and cares for us. Deeply and personally. He restores ours souls and rights our paths. And in the midst of walking through the valleys of life, in the midst of walking through the hard days on this earth, we have a Shepherd that is with us, guides us, and protects us. He showers us with the goodness and mercy of His saving and sustaining grace. Our Shepherd is mighty and gentle, good and faithful. And He is enough; in Him we lack nothing.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.He restores my soul.He leads me in paths of righteousnessfor his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me.

You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow meall the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Sarah Connatser

Sarah loves Jesus and her family and is passionate about addressing the urgent spiritual and physical needs around the world. She is the wife of Spencer and mama of Katherine and Claire, and they live in Nashville, TN. She runs a photography business with her husband and writes in order to offer encouragement and invite others to choose grace, joy, and gratitude in the adventure and the mundane. She loves traveling and reading; she will choose unsweet tea over sweet and bootcut jeans over skinny; and she is all sorts of awkward with small talk but thrives with deep conversations.